A good enough microscope

I am curious if anyone has had success with an "inexpensive" microscope.

In the scope and binocular world there are makers like vortex that are not as good as say leupold or leica but totally functional enough to get going.

There are multiple microscopes in the $300-600 range on Amazon with telescoping mounts. Not sure what the linking rules are here but an example ASIN would be something like this B09V27VCC8 .


Are any if these a reasonable stop gap till I can save up for a A60 or similar? Or are they lousy boat anchors?

I used a amscope for about a year till I saved up for a Zeiss. It improved my engraving significantly but would give me head aches and wasn’t great optically. I wouldn’t bother with anything better than a Leica a60. Even that is a bit overkill for some people (it’s a fantastic scope but expensive!) most could get by just as well with a used Meiji, Zeiss opmi 1, or wild heerbrugg (I have an m3b now and love it)

A cheaper scope can get you by for a while but you will want to upgrade at some point for sure. It’s a good jumping off point.

If I were you I would try to look for a good priced Meiji EMZ-5

It´s a very good scope with quality lenses you can have for years. I was lucky and got one for $350 from eBay. They are usually priced more high, but if you have a little luck and time it should be possible. I can use it a full day without any problems.

There are other brands and models out there too that could come for a good price..

I also have a AmScope trinocular and it gives me big headache, eye strain and leaving the engraving studio I just feel extremely tired and difficult to focus.. even only after a couple of hours. Not recommendable at all..

Good luck!

I bought an Omano stereo boom 'scope many years ago, intending to upgrade to a Meiji when I could afford it. I am still using the Omano.

It was the microscope Lindsay recommended on his site, "If you can't afford the (Zeiss or Leitz, I can't remember)."

I've used the Meiji EMZ-5s and they're nice. The Leica A6 is definitely better, but I really don't think it's enough better to justify the price difference. I currently own an Omano that's older than my HS freshman daughter, and I, like fitzo, bought it intending to upgrade. It's the same as the Amscope, if I recall, just an older branding (could be wrong about that though). It's good enough that I may never bother to upgrade, though if a used Meiji or A6 came up at a very good price I probably would.

I'm just making up numbers here and don't know what they're currently going for, but think about it this way: Does a Meiji cost twice as much as an Amscope? If so, is it twice as good? It might be. If the Leica is 2x the Meiji though in cost (and it's probably 3x), I can't honestly say it's 2-3x better. Edited to add: If you're going to be using this 8-10 hrs a day as a pro, however, 100% get the Leica. It is a superior piece of equipment, and your eyes will thank you.

If you can get the opportunity to use them all before buying, it'll help. But regardless, if you're just starting out you'd be better off spending your extra $ on a good ball vise, Satellite table (or alternative), PowerHone (or alternative) and a high quality air assist engraving system and sticking with the Amscope. You can always upgrade later, but not if you never get started.

Thank you all this is great information. If I decide to look for a used one what zoom range should I look at? Any common problems to watch for?

Don't get a Cheap Microscope. It will not serve any purpose. Use an Optivisor instead.
Usually good quality tools and instruments will last a lifetime. My 2 cents

Winstonklein said:

Usually good quality tools and instruments will last a lifetime

Click to expand...

I have an optivisor and an inexpensive dental loupe from the marquetry and inlay woodworking.

and yes its certainly been my experience its usually the case that quality pays in the long run. Why I am stating with a GRS vise and a Lindsay hand piece. OTOH there are occasions where you can get by with a cheaper tool. Looks like this may not be one of them...

Found a used Olympus SZ40 on the ebay, thinking it was $400.00, boom stand another $100.00, Barlow lens another $75.00 homemade adapter to mate the scope to the stand, the optics are good, with sufficient ancillary lighting it sees better than I can cut, the focus stays sharp through the range of zoom, those are the two most important aspects of a scope.

I picked up a World Precision Instruments microscope and stand a few years ago from a government auction for under $35. Since I only engrave as a hobby, and only for one or two hours at a time, it has been good enough for me.

If I were more committed to engraving, I’d probably need to upgrade to something better.